IMDb > Dead Men Tell (1941)

Dead Men Tell (1941) More at IMDbPro »

Overview

User Rating:
7.7/10   442 votes
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Director:
Harry Lachman
Writers:
Earl Derr Biggers (characters)
John Larkin (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for Dead Men Tell on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
28 March 1941 (USA) more
Genre:
Comedy | Crime | Mystery | Thriller more
Tagline:
Aboard a treasure ship Chan battles his most elusive adversary... the ghost of a pirate 100 years dead!
Plot:
A treasure map in four pieces, the ghost of a hanged pirate, a talking parrot, and a shipful of red herrings complicate Charlie's search for a murderer on board a treasure cruise. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
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User Comments:
Well, it looks pretty more (7 total)

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)
Sidney Toler ... Charlie Chan
Sheila Ryan ... Kate Ransome
Robert Weldon ... Steve Daniels
Victor Sen Yung ... Jimmy Chan (#2 son) (as Sen Yung)
Donald Douglas ... Jed Thomasson (as Don Douglas)
Kay Aldridge ... Laura Thursday (as Katharine Aldridge)
Paul McGrath ... Charles Thursday / Mr. Parks

George Reeves ... Bill Lydig
Truman Bradley ... Capt. Kane of the Suva Star
Ethel Griffies ... Miss Patience Nodbury
Lenita Lane ... Dr. Anne Bonney
Milton Parsons ... Gene LaFarge
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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
61 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Black and White
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound System)
Certification:
USA:Approved
Company:
Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation more

Fun Stuff

Quotes:
Inspector Vessey: [Referring to Jimmy] Kid's got a head on his shoulders.
Charlie Chan: Very good news if true.
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Movie Connections:
Followed by The Shanghai Cobra (1945) more

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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful.
Well, it looks pretty, 19 April 2009
7/10
Author: planktonrules from Bradenton, Florida

This is a rather strange film, as the plot is amazingly unusual. While this doesn't mean the plot is great, at least it deserves kudos for being different! The film begins with Charlie coming to the docks to look for his incredibly stupid son, Tommy. In the process, however, naturally he stumbles into a murder--something he does practically all the time!! This time, however, the setting on board an old fashion sailing ship (circa 1800) and the story of a vengeful pirate ghost and a treasure map make this a weird tale indeed! As I said, it isn't a great plot--mostly because it was so contrived and tough to believe. However, it still managed to be fun.

The star of this film wasn't actually the actors but the set design and cinematography. The director had quite an artistic eye and it has to be the prettiest and best filmed Chan movie of all time. With fascinating angles, a Film Noir-like look and a creepy locale, this is a breathtaking film for film students. Just because the Chan films were relatively low budget, this time there was just a little something extra.

About the only negative, and it's a minor one, is the running gag of having Tommy fall into the harbor. Once or twice is funny--four times is simply too much.

Overall, a pretty but average Twentieth-Century Fox Charlie Chan film.

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Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
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